Designing for Collaboration: A Toolkit for Open and Inclusive Environmental Research
333 | Fri 01 Aug 3 p.m.–3:20 p.m.
Presented by
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Cathy Richards
@myqntm
https://www.cathyr.com/
Cathy Richards (she/her) is a technologist and a Civic Science Fellow/Data Inclusion Specialist at Open Environmental Data Project. Focused on harnessing technology for environmental and social justice, she brings a strong commitment to ethical tech practices, data-driven solutions, and resilience in the face of emerging global challenges. Previously, Cathy worked at The Engine Room as the Associate for Digital Resilience and Emerging Technology, where she focused on integrating cutting-edge tools to support vulnerable communities. Cathy was also a 2023-2024 Green Web Foundation Fellow, investigating the use of GIS for environmental justice and addressing its ethical and security risks. In addition, Cathy has also taught Metrics & Data Visualization at SVA and contributed to various organizations such as Keystone Accountability and Helen Keller International, working on issues from climate entrepreneurship that tackled youth unemployment to immigrant rights and international health. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Boston University and an MPA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies. In her spare time, you’ll find her playing capoeira, solving puzzles, tracing her family history, hoarding books, or saying hello to every dog she meets.
Cathy Richards
@myqntm
https://www.cathyr.com/
Abstract
As communities worldwide confront urgent environmental challenges, open source technologies and data infrastructures are increasingly central to how we understand, protect, and sustain our environments. Yet, persistent gaps remain between the development of open tools, academic research, and the practical needs of the communities most affected by environmental issues.
Open Environmental Data Project (OEDP) and partners are addressing this gap through the creation of the Digital Toolkit for Collaborative Environmental Research. This toolkit, grounded in research conducted in 2024, provides actionable resources for open source developers, socio-environmental researchers, and community organizations seeking to build and maintain effective, community-driven collaborations. By employing a design pattern language approach, the toolkit offers concrete solutions and strategies organized around key themes such as building trust through transparent data practices, navigating power dynamics in collaborations, and fostering sustainable models of community data stewardship. The toolkit emphasizes the FOSS values of openness and transparency by encouraging open access to data and documentation; it supports collaboration and inclusivity through community-driven decision-making processes; and it advances sustainability by promoting reusable, adaptable tools that empower all participants to contribute and benefit equitably.
This talk will share lessons learned from OEDP’s work, highlighting how the toolkit translates open infrastructure into inclusive, practical frameworks that empower communities to use data for local action and advocacy. Attendees will gain insights into how research can inform the design of open source tools that truly serve community needs, and how practitioners and researchers can collaborate more effectively to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The session will also explore the broader implications for FOSS communities, focusing on how participatory approaches to tool development and data governance can drive more equitable and sustainable outcomes in environmental contexts.
As communities worldwide confront urgent environmental challenges, open source technologies and data infrastructures are increasingly central to how we understand, protect, and sustain our environments. Yet, persistent gaps remain between the development of open tools, academic research, and the practical needs of the communities most affected by environmental issues. Open Environmental Data Project (OEDP) and partners are addressing this gap through the creation of the Digital Toolkit for Collaborative Environmental Research. This toolkit, grounded in research conducted in 2024, provides actionable resources for open source developers, socio-environmental researchers, and community organizations seeking to build and maintain effective, community-driven collaborations. By employing a design pattern language approach, the toolkit offers concrete solutions and strategies organized around key themes such as building trust through transparent data practices, navigating power dynamics in collaborations, and fostering sustainable models of community data stewardship. The toolkit emphasizes the FOSS values of openness and transparency by encouraging open access to data and documentation; it supports collaboration and inclusivity through community-driven decision-making processes; and it advances sustainability by promoting reusable, adaptable tools that empower all participants to contribute and benefit equitably. This talk will share lessons learned from OEDP’s work, highlighting how the toolkit translates open infrastructure into inclusive, practical frameworks that empower communities to use data for local action and advocacy. Attendees will gain insights into how research can inform the design of open source tools that truly serve community needs, and how practitioners and researchers can collaborate more effectively to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The session will also explore the broader implications for FOSS communities, focusing on how participatory approaches to tool development and data governance can drive more equitable and sustainable outcomes in environmental contexts.